Rowan County

Local Emergency Planning Committee

(LEPC)

The Rowan County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is organized under the auspices of the County Board of Commissioners, and it activities are in accordance with, but not limited to, Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA).

It is an organization of industrial, governmental and citizen member groups whose purpose is to provide a forum in which the local community and facilities can discuss issues related to hazardous substances, man-made and natural hazards or emergencies.  Additionally, the LEPC works closely with Emergency Management and all response agencies to fulfill the tasks as outlined below on an ongoing basis.

• Establish procedures for reviewing and processing requests from the public for information under the Community Right-To-Know Act (Section 324) of known chemical storage and hazards in the community.
• Develop a chemical hazard/risk analysis of the community as a whole.
• Develop emergency response procedures for emergency response personnel.
• Identify private/public sector resources available to deal with hazardous materials emergencies.
• Identify private/public sector resources available to deal with natural and man-made emergencies.
• Review emergency plans submitted by the subcommittees and make recommendations on revisions of the plans that may be necessary to ensure coordination of such plan with emergency response plans of other emergency planning agencies.
• Exercise emergency response plans and update them accordingly.

The Committee is designated coordinating entity for the US Department of Homeland Security's Citizen Corp Program for Rowan County. As such,Rowan's LEPC also promotes and encourages all citizens and businesses to prepare for disaster and emergency situations by becoming a partner in ReadyROWAN!

The LEPC also promotes and coordinates the development of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program within the county, including it's municipalities.

Meetings of the LEPC:

Regular meetings of the LEPC are on the third Thursday of January, March, May, July, September, and November at 3:00pm at various member facility locations throughout the county.

• January 19 - Rowan County Health Department
• March 15 - Town of Landis
• May 17 - Dalheize America
• July 19 - Southern Power
• September 20 - Rowan Regional Medical Center
• November 15 - Duke Energy

 
The LEPC's Executive Sub-committee meets on the third Thursday of February, April, June, August, October, and December. This subcommittee consists of the elected officers of the LEPC for the current year, and provides guideance and direction planning for regular meetings of the full Committee.

Six additional sub-committees assist in the review and development of specific goals and topics of interest to the LEPC.  These sub-committess are outlined below and meet on an as-needed basis as directed by the Chairperson or individual sub-committee chair

• Emergency Operations Plan Review
• Exercise Design
• Hazardous Materials Response & Planning
• Nominations
• Public Awareness
• Special Needs & Populations

 
All meetings of the LEPC are open to the public. If you would like to attend, please contact the Administrative Secretary at Emergency Services electronically or by phone at 704-216-8900 for details.